Junior shutout

In one of the most anticipated games of the year, the end result was a shutout by the rookies to kick off homecoming week at Churchill County High School.

The junior class ran past the seniors, 21-0, on Monday in the annual Powder Puff game at the Edward Arciniega Complex. The junior’s athletic bunch frustrated the seniors’ offense all night holding the soon-to-be graduates to a handful of runs of more than 10 yards and a pair of long passes from quarterback Maggie O’Flaherty.

The juniors’ offense, though, mixed up their attack as they rode the legs of Britney Wallace and Kyla Kincaid and the arm of Megan McCormick.

After a scoreless first quarter highlighted by a 37-yard pass from O’Flaherty to Janelica Galera, the juniors broke loose when McCormick delivered a bullet to wide receiver Kalyn Huckaby for a 45-yard touchdown pass with 10:35 left in the second quarter.

The juniors’ defense held strong and when the ball was “punted,” the running game took over. Izzy Thomas went for 15 yards and Kincaid followed with a 35-yard TD run for a 14-0 lead.

With 2 minutes left in the quarter, the juniors nearly struck again as McCormick ran for 17 and Kayla Biggs added a 20-yard run to the seniors’ 25-yard line. The seniors, though, held off the drive.

In the third quarter, the juniors iced the game when Miranda Ford picked off O’Flaherty and returned the interception 30 yards for a 21-0 lead.

The seniors attempted to rally in the fourth quarter as O’Flaherty hit Galera for a 23-yard gain to for a first down at the juniors’ 23. On the next play, O’Flaherty turned the left corner and found an open seam, but slipped at the 10 preserving the shutout.

The boys football homecoming game is at 7 p.m. Friday against Dayton.